合気道

THE WAY OF HARMONIZING ENERGY

Aikido is a martial art that focuses on achieving harmony in order to resolve conflict. ​The name Aikido can be translated as: Way of Harmonizing Energy. ​The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (referred to as “O-Sensei”, or "Kaiso"), developed the art based on his vast experience in and knowledge of other martial arts, including aiki-jutsu, sword and staff arts. O-Sensei’s unique realization was that the study of a martial art can be a path to peace.

開祖​​Beginners and long-time students alike are encouraged to do independent research about the life of the Founder and the historical context of the art he created. Aside from the many books written on the subject, these links are good places to start:

AIKIDO IS FOR EVERYONE

Aikido can be viewed and practiced as a self-defense art, a conflict resolution art, a (moving) meditation, a method for stress reduction, a way to achieve a healthy and peaceful lifestyle or a path to spiritual growth. Aikido not only imparts the physical benefits of increased power and flexibility, but also leads to a greater feeling of self-confidence. The practical self-defense side of the art is balanced with the spiritual development that results from harmonizing with others.

​A Different Paradigm​One of the main things that separates Aikido from other arts is that it does not operate under a Strength/Force paradigm for resolving a conflict (i.e. responding to aggression with reciprocal force). Under the Strength/Force paradigm, it makes sense to condition the body for delivering and blocking kicks and punches, and/or for wrestling an opponent into a choke or arm bar, or avoiding the same, etc. This usually culminates in competition, where success mainly depends on dominance in Strength/Force. This is not to say that these things are inherently bad or wrong --indeed, pursuits of strength were part of the Founder's path that led him to his enlightenment. In Aikido, however, we try to remember the Founder's prescription in the wake of his insights: avoid competition and stick to diligent practice of Aikido forms --within them and through practice, one can learn to harmonize one's energy, both personally/internally, and with the movement/force of another person. Because it is not a competition of strength, people of all different types of bodies, ages, etc., can and should be able to train, as long as there is someone to teach them...

THE PRACTICE OF AIKIDO

​In executing techniques, both partners have an equally important role. The partner who attacks gives an honest strike or grab, and ends up on the 'receiving' end of an unexpected turn of events, resulting in either a back-fall, a forward-fall (roll), a high-fall, or a pin on the ground. ​​​The person who is attacked learns to center themselves and to use body alignment and spiral extension to first unbalance their attacking partner, and then take them down in either a back-fall, a forward-fall (roll), a high-fall, or a pin on the ground.​ ​When training, the level of intensity for attacking and responding can be turned up or down, depending on what the agreement is between partners. In this way, people of all different ages and abilities can and should be able to train with each other, and each partner always has something to learn if they train earnestly and diligently.

Aikido decides life and death in a single strike, so students must carefully follow the instructor’s teaching and not compete to see who is the strongest.

Aikido is the way that teaches how one can deal with several enemies. Students must train themselves to be alert not just to the front, but to all sides and the back.

Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.

The instructor teaches only one small aspect of the art. Its versatile applications must be discovered by each student through incessant practice and training.

In daily practice first begin by changing your body (“tai no henko”) and then progress to more intensive practice. Never force anything unnaturally or unreasonably. If this rule is followed, then even elderly people will not hurt themselves and they can train in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.

The purpose of aikido is to train mind and body and to produce sincere, earnest people. Since all the techniques are to be transmitted person-to-person, do not randomly reveal them to others, for this might lead to their being used by hoodlums.

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Aiki Integrated Arts, dba the Aikido Institute, is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. Our mission is to provide instruction to the public about the art of Aikido and other movement arts, for the benefit of the practitioners and the community at large. All of our instructors teach on a volunteer basis, and proceeds from tuition go directly into fulfilling our mission. For more info, please go here.